Desperately Seeking Cantonese

Note to self: buy DVDs and CDs in KL if I want them to be in Cantonese rather than Mandarin. EVERYTHING here is in Mandarin; Jacky Cheung, Leslie Cheung, God of Gamblers, Ip Man, TVB serials on Channel 5.

E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

It's driving me crazy! What the hell is wrong with having a variety of Cantonese movies and music?

On my next trip back from KL, I will be entering Singapore armed with CDs and DVDs in Cantonese.

Another Fun Day Out At The Zoo

It just goes to show how small Singapore is when, since coming over in April or so, we've been to the zoo about 7 times. And the bird park 2 times. How many times have I been to the KL zoo? Y'know, I can't remember when was the last time I was there.

The Singapore zoo is loads of fun, especially since they've redone the new Kids Rainforest: carousel, pony rides, goats, huge new water play area, what more can a kid want?


Mommy and Sophia enjoying the shade under the trees.


Yes, we are enjoying our walk.

This is what happens when the animals save their rainforest.


Sophia encounters a miniature pony.


The perfect end to a perfect day.

Books, Books, Boooooooooks!!!

I've found my book heaven, and it's the Singapore National Library.

I've been there on average once a week or so. I started going there since end-June and I can't wait to keep gong back. I don't need to build my own library anymore (this wil only give me more moolah leftover for stuff and clothes for Sophie) and I haven't bought any books in...two months! Why would I need to when the SNL has EVERYTHING that I could possibly want to read?

Its collection is so extensive that I haven't found anything that's not on their shelves, save for a few new releases. At least if I borrow the books first and read them, I can decide which I'd rather buy to add to my collection. Too many times, I buy a book to read it to only find that it's satisfactory and not mind-blowing. Well, borrowing books from the SNL will only help me whittle out what I'd rather just read and put back on the shelf. Plus, I'm gonna be able to save $$!! Talk about whacking two birds with one stone.

No need to gush about their search system but it is totally AWESOME! I can search the catalogue online and I can find out if the book is on loan, in transit or on the shelf, as well as in which branch it's available. Oh, and reservations can be made online too.

Taking the books out of the library is as simple as inserting your library card into the CPU, waiting for a prompt and then just putting them on the pad to scan. Returning books is even easier: just drop them in the book drop where their status is updated immediately and electronically.

I LOVE the National Library!!

Here's a list of what I've borrowed so far:

1. If A Tree Falls At Lunch Period - Gennifer Choldenko
2. A Crooked Kind Of Perfect - Linda Urban
3. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart
4. Slam - Nick Hornby
5. Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out Of A Tree - Lauren Tarshis
6. Jumping The Scratch - Sarah Weeks
7. So B. It Sarah Weeks
8. An Abundance Of Katherines - John Green
9. Forget Me Not - Isabel Wolff

There were a few more books whose titles elude me. Anyway, as I was saying, the SNL could very well be one of my favourite places in Singapore. I daresay Sophie has her share of fun crawling around the carpet in the children's area and digging into the chests of books. Sometimes she gets so excited she ends up shrieking and it takes all I have to keep her noise levels acceptable.

What's so great about the SNL is that they also have a parenting/baby room which is huge and spotlessly clean. Hardly anyone uses it and you need to get someone from customer service to open it up for you. There are two rooms for breastfeeding and a huge padded bench on which you can let your young ones crawl around on. Or feed them if you need to. I use it to change Sophie. It's perfect because it's soft and wide and because she's standing up with her hands against the wall, it's ideal. She hates lying down to be changed and she dislikes those pull-down diaper change stations. It may sound exteme but I've never failed to use that room everytime I visit the SNL.

The SNL is such a well-thought out facility and the collections are so good that it really is a veritable pleasure to drop by and spend a quiet afternoon there.

So What If They're Kiasu? We Could Learn A Thing Or Two From Them

I was pushing Sophia along in her stroller on the sidewalk next to the main road past Clarke Quay. In the heat of the afternoon sun. She had it easy. She was fast asleep. I was sweating like a pig and hoping the searing sun and hot air wouldn't cause too much discomfort as to wake her up.

As we got closer to our destination (Clarke Quay MRT station), sounds of the road getting royally jackhammered started jarring my otherwise peaceful walk and I saw that there was a bit of roadworks right where I would be walking past. There was no way I'd be able to go around it or avoid it; the sidewalk I was on was the only through path and it would have to pass by the roadworks. I found myself hoping that the little one would sleep right through the racket.

As I neared the affected area, I could see a truck and its operator. I was about 8' or so from the area when I noticed the truck operator nod at me and then proceeded to turn off the deafening machine and let me pass by with stroller and sleeping infant. I wonder if he saw my eyes widen in surprise? I nodded back to him and smiled. He may have smiled, I'm not sure; he had a towel over his mouth and nose to keep from breathing in the dust.

After I'd walked past the area in relative quiet and was a safe distance away from the roadworks, I heard the truck/machine start up again behind me.

Of course, the wee one stayed fast asleep throughout the entire encounter.

Wow. Imagine that. Not the bit about the baby being asleep. Imagine that a roadworker (is there such a word?) actually stopped the racket to let a sleeping baby and her mother walk past undisturbed. The only other country I can see that happening is in Japan.

Courtesy in Singapore is very much alive and kicking even if they may be kiasu. Can't say I can say the same thing for us Malaysians. Would the average Malaysian hold the lift door open for you after they've gone out of the lift?Would they even let you board the lift first? Or would the average teenage Malaysian let a couple with a stroller head into a crowded lift first, even though they were waiting for it first? An old uncle offered me his seat on the MRT when he saw me standing with Sophie in my sling. Taxi drivers come out of their cabs to help load the shopping and stroller when we take a cab.

With courtesy and consideration generally abundant everywhere I go in this island state, who cares that these are a people whom the term kiasu was coined for?

There's more to these Singaporeans than being kiasu.

Dads & Their Daughters

While in Singapore, we managed to catch up with Chee Chuan and Joey, whom we haven't seen in a while and meet Tricia, their miracle baby. Tricia was born at Week 24 and lived for a few months in an incubator; she's had two eye surgeries and a heart surgery. Her mom, Joey, had excessive bleeding after the birth and I can understand why she and Chee Chuan don't want any more kids at the moment.

It was a short, hurried, crowded meeting at Atria's Food Avenue. Being there was as hazardous as being in a crowded kitchen: strollers, babies, crowds, cramped areas and bowls of hot soup don't mix. Since Rizal and I weren't hungry and the Cheong's had had their dinner, we adjourned to their hotel where there was a Harry's and had the sampler there. Rizal swears that it's better than the food at Las Caretas in Jalan Damansara.

The meeting was short as the Cheongs had an early morning flight to Hong Kong. Wished we had more time to talk but a short meeting was better than nothing since the last time we met up with the Cheongs was a few years ago when they were back in Seremban/Batu Pahat for their wedding.

Here are the two gals with their proud dads.


Rizal does look round in this one and complained about the photo; wanted it taken down but as it's the only good photo I have of the two dads, it's staying up.

Where The Animals Cavort and Play

It's been a long time since I've been to the zoo. I avoid the KL zoo for a valid reason: looking at listless, half-starved and vapid animals in captivity is depressing. That was a long time ago but I don't have faith that there has been much improvement since the last time (15-20 years?) since I've been there.

The same can't be said for the Singapore zoo; I actually WANT to, look forward to going there. And to see how Sophie would take to an outing in the sun.

So today we met Sam and Aisha in the morning for our traipse out into the Singapore 'wilderness'.



Otters taking a break from building their dams, baking in the sun.


This is not a dear but I can't remember what it's called.


Sophie and me catching some sun, on the way to see the cheetahs.


We saw the lionesses instead.


Old man monkey.


This green tree python and his sleeping position reminds me of Janell Cannon's Verdi.


Exhibit 56: Crying baby.


This is a jaguar, not a cheetah or a leopard.


Jaguars have a black spot in the middle of their rings.


Like Trixie in the wild.


Handsome boy.


My target exhibit; there weren't any other Asian tigers, just the White Tigers at the zoo. The Asian tiger can be found at the Night Safari. Note: there are only 7,000 tigers left in the wild and they are all Asian tigers. I hope Sophie can grow up knowing tigers and that they will still exist when she's an adult.


Sam the Man.


All of us camera ready except for Sophie.


A little loving from Daddy.

Sales In Singapore

I'd forgotten why I'd avoided sales all this while. Trying to manouvre Sophie around in her stroller at Robinsons in Raffles City, it didn't take much to remind me why I'd rather shop during non-sales periods. The sheer number of people compounded with the long queues at the cashier and the difficulty in trying get through narrow aisles crammed with people are but some of the put-offs that have encouraged me to pay for my merchandise at full price. It totally turned me off trying on shoes and clothes.

I was luckier at Plaza Singapura; just by sheer luck I found a glittery dress in a style that I liked at Dorothy Perkins and good thing I had on my tank top so I could just slip it on and look at myself in the shop mirror without having to queue for a fitting room. Just my luck also that it happened to be the last piece on the rack in my size. 50% off! Wow. Talk about destiny.

All I need to complete my look for the eventual, still as yet unconfirmed New Year's Eve party is a pair of shoes to go with the dress.

Should I bother with shopping this weekend? Maybe I'll get lucky at Parkway Parade, who knows?

S'pore vs. M'sia : Part II

Hubby received his new toy - a Blackberry - from the new company. It runs on SingTel.

Upon arriving home, he called SingTel to activate the device or to troubleshoot, I forget which. The customer service rep gave him the contact number of a technician and told him that the technician would call him to walk him through, and if said technician doesn't call within 30 minutes, he should call customer service again to report.

SingTel: 15, TMNet: 0


The technician called a few minutes later.

SingTel: 30, TMNet: 0


There were various problems with activating and sending emails via the Blackberry but the point of this story is that for SingTel to actually troubleshoot the device and connection, they'd have to do it via the Maxis platform here, which they did. And throughout the day, there was dialogue and follow up with hubby on status. They not only called but sent test emails to the device.

What has TMNet done for our faulty and non-functioning Streamyx connection so far? Tell me time and again that the case has been 'escalated to the highest level' and refused to give out the direct contact to their technicians.

SingTel: 40, TMNet: 0


I think the Blackberry is working now, am not sure, have not checked with hubby. On the other hand, we're still stuck without a Streamyx connection.

So, compare the both, since they are similar cooperations in that it's SingTel and TMNet. How is it that just across the causeway, customer service and timely response is exemplary while we are languishing here in the muck of mediocrity?

For the whole experience, this is how I'd sum up the score:

Game, set and match to SingTel.

S'pore vs. M'sia

Compare hubby's experience with the S'pore government and that of mine with local Immigration.

Hubby took the bus down to S'pore yesterday and today went to S'pore's Ministry of Manpower to submit his work permit application in the early morning. There were about 40 people in line and he was served in under 20 minutes. He was told to return later before lunch to collect his work permit.

SHORT. SIMPLE. EASY.

Now go back to my experience with Immigration at D'sara Heights and you tell me why M'sia is lagging behind in so many ways.